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Michigan 2-1-1 DHS Earned Income Tax Credit Demonstration Project Year Two October – May, 2009. Michigan 2-1-1 connects people with information and resources to build healthy, safe communities. Get Help Give Help. About 2-1-1:. 2-1-1 provides Information and Referrals 24/7/365
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Michigan 2-1-1 DHS Earned Income Tax Credit Demonstration ProjectYear TwoOctober – May, 2009
Michigan 2-1-1 connects people with information and resourcesto build healthy, safe communities
About 2-1-1: • 2-1-1 provides Information and Referrals 24/7/365 • Calls typically last 3 – 5 minutes • Our Information and Referral Specialists: • Help the callers tell their story, understand and prioritize their needs. • Identify and offer them appropriate resources. • Provide advocacy for those needing extra support to access services. • Follow up on 100% of crisis calls, such as those for emergency shelter or housing assistance, and 10% of non-crisis calls.
I want to kill myself I need to find childcare My child is on drugs I can’t pay my rent I want to volunteer We can’t help with that We only do senior daycare I’ll try to transfer you to an agency who can help We don’t need volunteers I don’t know about those resources We don’t serve your area I don’t know, please hold. We only know about domestic violence programs
I want to kill myself I need to find childcare I can’t pay my rent I want to volunteer My child is on drugs 2-1-1 2-1-1, how may I help you? Yes, I can connect you with someone who can help… Suicide Prevention Hotline Drug Rehabilitation Center Volunteer Center Rental Assistance Program Child Care Resource And Referral
How Does 2-1-1 Work? Community Organizations Problem Solving I & R Detailed Resources Government Services Advocacy / Empowerment 2-1-1 is: • Free • Confidential • Professional • Multilingual • Available 24/7 Faith Based Services
2-1-1 Today and in the Future Current coverage 2009 Projects Projects in process Workgroup forming
Earned Income Tax Credit Project • 2-1-1 or toll-free access to free tax assistance preparation sites throughout Michigan • 11,575 EITC referrals • 345 free tax preparation sites in database (VITA, AAS, AARP, CAA & more) • 87 Call Specialists trained to screen and identify callers that could be eligible for the EITC & CTC • Publicizing EITC, pre-screening for eligibility, referring tax volunteers, collecting data
Unmet needs* *Unmet needs are recorded when a caller cannot be referred. Reasons for unmet needs range from a service being full or unavailable to having no transportation to access the service to being ineligible for the program.
Added value - comprehensive service to callers 2-1-1 callers requesting financial assistance or help with basic needs were offered the opportunity to learn about the EITC • Callers requesting information about EITC were assessed for referrals to additional community resources such as health care access, food, mortgage foreclosure assistance and any of the thousands of resources in 2-1-1 Call Center databases • 2,852 EITC callers referred to asset building programs • Trained 2-1-1 Call Specialists work with callers using creative problem-solving techniques to identify both short and long-term solutions
Potential EITC refunds captured by using 2-1-1 • Based upon 2007 average EITC refund of $1,975 • If just 80% of 2-1-1 callers pre-screened and referred to free tax assistance sites completed filings, then: • $18,288,500 in Federal EITC refunds would enter the Michigan economy plus $1,828,850 in Michigan EITC • Compare to 2008 with $6,788,477 anticipated
Michigan 2-1-1 Call Centers • C.A.L.L. 2-1-1 • Central Michigan 2-1-1 • Gryphon Place 2-1-1 • Hands On Battle Creek 2-1-1 • Heart of West Michigan United Way’s 2-1-1 • United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s 2-1-1 • UPCAP 2-1-1 • Coming soon: United Way 2-1-1: Midland Call Center
Questions?? • Please contact: • Sherry Miller, Director • Michigan 2-1-1 • Michigan Association of United Ways • 517.371.4360 • www.uwmich.org/2-1-1